No buy or low buy 2023

[TheOGCCL]

Starting a new thread for the new year. I really must do better. Pretty sure I am in need of nothing after my 2022 spending spree.

Ironically I think this board sets me off a bit.

I’m better with a blanket no spend but how dull. Still thinking about my ‘rules’, eg set a budget or an item limit.

I need to avoid the sales as many mistakes happen there.

All welcome who want to cut down for environmental or ethical or financial reasons, or simply the satisfaction of buying second hand, or the ease of getting dressed when you have less stuff.

I can recommend Lauren Bravo’s book How To Break Up With Fast Fashion.

Its a bit like eating meat, if we all collectively did it a bit less, the world would be a better place.

I’ve just put £160 of stuff into my Zara basket ready for tonight’s sale. It’s nothing I really need but stuff I’ve wanted recently. The last hurrah? And then…No more!!!!!

Oh I need a few bits, tops etc. But I will reapply the get one-throw one rule! And I promise i won't be tempted by bargains. Merry Christmas

I really must do this next year!

I really need no new clothes or shoes or boots
I have enough make up to open several shops! Ditto perfume and enough body wash, shampoo and conditioner.

The only thing I may have to buy is more hair removal cream. I got the Sunny brand from Boots and am keen to use it tonight/tomorrow as have just looked at my purse mirror which magnifies and I have quite a moustache and very white sprouting beard hairs. Just call me Ms Christmas!!!

It's hard because of the way the shops work - encouraging impulse buys by offering discounts and selling out of stuff really quickly. I'd love to be able to ruminate on something but more often than not its gone by the time I've done that.

The post strikes are helping me as no guarantee of fast delivery with online shopping.

I like @FirstTimeMum072022 's idea of shopping only at certain windows and cold turkey the rest of the time. Definitely May, potentially October.

I’m in. No spend from January for me, and that’s on anything that isn’t essential E.g. food. My spending is way out of hand. So no clothes, no skincare, no makeup, fragrance, candles, footwear, books, movies, anything.

I'm in. I need to think through what my rules are going to be but already know not to buy any more of certain products e.g foundation and blusher I have tons of!

Clothes I'm not sure about as I intend to lose 3st in 2023. If I've lost two of those by summer I will need to buy some new clothes.

Off to read the previous thread!

I'm in. Am subscribing from every email newsletter thing that I can. Will purge instagram. Have deleted my card details from Vinted - has become a bit of a habit. Looking forward to refocusing.

Oof me too !
We re all set for Studio 54 or a Warhol party & for whenever I’m invited to be lead singer for that non existent band !
no jeans that fit tho

These are great practical steps to take. Following in your footsteps!

I need to do this too. I've bought an outrageous amount in 2022 partly because my life changed quite a lot work-wise and my style changed as a result.

I need to sell a lot of my older stuff, have just been putting it off due to the postal strikes. So my thinking is if I sell something I can then use most/some of that money as my shopping budget if I really want something.

I've also noticed almost everything gets reduced at some stage so it's worth waiting and not buying full price. But I also don't need anything much, if anything it's basics I need, not the interesting pieces I get tempted by online.

Love the idea of a low spend and have definitely started this in the last few months.

I will continue through 2023 with low spend, just items I actually need.

I nearly bought a new dress before Christmas but found one in my wardrobe I bought years ago until he same and never wore, it was lovely and saved me nearly £100.

Im a boots addict too and have resisted in 2022, will continue to sit on my hands. For me it’s financial mainly but good for the environment too.

I have bought a Ted Baker purse in the sale but that is my only treat this Christmas and I will use it.

Somewhere in my brain I think I'm Elton John and it presents in so many aspects of my life.

Joining. I adore clothes and really don't need any more. I did quite well on a no-buy H1 2022 (house purchase)... and then more than made up for it in H2 🙄Sigh.

Think I will aim for a low-buy. One thing per month, no more (includes jewellery).

I'm in, I have just so much stuff. Perfume, cosmetics, clothes etc etc, I don't need anything.

I have counted and made a list of the cosmetics and it makes a very sober read - 288 items. Who needs 288 bottles/tubes/packs of cosmetics? I have not made a list and counted my clothes - would take a while I think.

I am aiming for a no spend/very low spend 2023. Only buying something if absolutely essential.

I’m in! I gave it a go in Oct-Nov this year and it was really interesting.
At first I kept a list of everything I wanted to buy but didn’t buy - I found it motivating to see the “savings” build up and to see that I no longer craved those items after I had resisted the initial purchase. I then found that I didn’t need the list anymore as I stopped craving impulse buys overall. However I have since bought a bit more in Dec so planning a low buy year 2023.
The plan is 1 quality piece of clothing max a month. I am still finding my style post-baby so don’t think I can go no-buy but I am intent on not using fast fashion anymore.

@Boppertini That's genius about making a list of what you DON'T buy!

Just checking in. Since I posted here I’ve bought some reduced Lush in the sale, and a sample pair of boots from Celtic & Co. I’m eyeing up a Bella Freud jumper too (anyone have one? How do they wear?) and then that’s me done. I’ve started unsubscribing from marketing emails. I’ll also be taking a social media break. I have spare advents time open in January so it will feel like I’m easing myself into it.

I'm not really holding back in the sales between now and the new year (although I'm not going crazy either).

I've just bought some bits of make up which I needed after having to bin some of mine after I got an eye problem 🤢

I've also ordered some basic bits from h&m which I need.

I know I'll want some new sandals in the summer, and maybe a summer dress or two which I can get second hand. But until then, I should be ok...

I have bought 4 items in the sales already but these items are from higher end shops (JL, ARKET etc) & to replace my old primark items which have fallen apart. This is my new rule for 2023, buy once but buy quality.

I’m in! I really enjoy clothes so I don’t want to do a complete no-buy, but my plan is to completely stop internet shopping as I think this often results in me keeping things which are just ‘ok’ but I might not have bought it I saw them in a physical shop (also so much hassle, deliveries have been rubbish recently, returns are often annoying).

So my plan is set myself a budget and allow myself to go out on the weekend after payday to the shops and spend up to that budget. I’m in a city centre so have plenty nearby, but when I’ve been shopping in person recently more often than not don’t buy stuff as I’m much more fussy. But if I do find something I like I know I’ll wear it as I’ve tried it on and been more mindful about it. Also it’s nicer to wander round/get a coffee etc even if you don’t buy anything - much better than scrolling online.

Checking in:
Am unsubscribing from mailing lists, so many!
Have deleted instagram app from my phone - I may go back to it as DD uses it a lot and I like seeing her photos, but she is with us at the moment and I know I am influenced to buy things by Insta.

I need to list the food we have to either freeze or use it up. Going to see family for the rest of the week - usually involves a trip to the sales, but am going to pass on that.
I have a bag full of things to sell on Vinted - need to take lots of photos before I go back to work, then I can work my way through the listings, a few a day. It is always the photos that holds me up.

Need to track payments going out of the bank accounts and cancel lots of regular payments I think.

I'm the very same. Lots of sparkly clothes for someone who rarely goes out!

I'm in. I can buy tights in 2023 but that's it.

I did a low buy last year 12 items ie one a month, this was all items for me not just clothes
it didn't include replacement tights or underwear or any essential clothing item that got damaged ( none did but if my one completely waterproof jacket had got damaged it would have needed replacement as would my only pair of wellies) either did it include joint purchases for the house or replacment toiletries skincare ( i don't do much make up and have enough) ie new one purchased when old one is 80% used
I bought 11 items 8 items of clothing 1 footwear and 1 perfume and 1 item for house that I just wanted

my guidelines are
which gap in my wardrobe is this filling
which item in my current wardrobe is this item I want better than,
if this was not on sale would i even look at it
does this go with a least 3 pieces of clothing and can i make at least 3 different outfits from it
does it fit properly now and is it comfortable I buy nothing to slim into
do I already have something similar and if so why is this one needed as well
if shopping online it needs to stay in basket at least 24 hours

and once purchased something needs to go

I have about 4 things on this years wish list, a winter cord dress with pockets, pair of flattering lightweight but not transparent summer trousers, scoop neck mid blue cashmere jumper and probably a new phone towards end of year mines getting slow

I'm in! I'm attempting a no buy in January but will probably transition back to a second-hand only low-buy for clothing and bags. I was mostly doing that in 2022 and I have enough that I like and fits me to continue into 2023. Maybe I'll even do better. 😊

For makeup and skincare (which is another trouble area for me) I need to go full no buy, at least until I get to the point of using up everything in a category. But I've got a Lumene advent calendar from DH for Christmas (I did ask for it - it's lovely for my skin!) and I will use doors in that as a 'treat' when I feel tempted to buy something new.

@Thesheerrelief I'm the same, I ordered the mint velvet sequin dress, it's only £50

In the next sale down from £109, and a sequin jacket, goodness knows when I will wear it,